Engine



A. J, MEYER Aug. 20, 1935.

' ENGINE Filed Oct. 8, 1931 ATTORNEY.

Patented Ang. 20, i935 Ares para is A yENGINE VvAndre J. Meyer; Detroit, `lVIich.,assnignor'to Con-r' tinentallvlotors -Corporatiom Detroit, rMich., -a

corporation of VVirginia( Application oteber 8, 1931, Serial No.1567Q668- 27 Claims.

vMy invention relates to sleeve valve engines 4and more particularly to engines of the radial 'type and the sleeve valve driving means.

An object of my invention is to provide an engine of the aforesaid 'type having generally improved operatingcharacteristics. c

A furtherobject'of 'my invention is to provide ran eicient, and reliable sleeve valve driving means that may be economically manufactured 'and readily assembled tothe engine with a'minimum of time and labor. l v

` For a more detailed understanding of'myinvention, reference may'behad to the'ac'comp'anying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional View partly in elevation of a radial engine of the` sleeve Valve type and taken substantially on theline Vof Fis. 2,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof taken substantially on the line 2-2 of "Fig, `1, l

Fig. 3 is a detail end view of the sleeve actuating crank, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view in section' of a standard type of self-aligning bearing employed for' sup.- porting the sleeve actuating element.r

In the illustrated. embodiment of my invention I'have shown my improved sleevevalve driving mechanism as beingincorporated with a radial sleeve valve engine A of the'typeV having a'cra'nk-` case IE), a crankshaft I l and a plurality of cylin` ders l2 disposed radially Yabout the crankshaft,

said cylinders being suitablyportedfor intake Y and exhaust. Sleeve valve means Vare. associated With each cylinder and for purposes of illustration I have shown a single sleeve valve i4 of the Burt-McCollum type in which Vthe sleevefisg'iven a .combined reciprocating and oscillating move'- Inent with respect to .the sleeve and associated cylinder axes. Each cylinder has a cylinder head l5 secured thereto and preferablyprovided with a reentrant head portion I6 dependingrwithin the cylinder and spaced from, the walls thereof to providea sleeve pocket l l fo-r'accommodating the outer or upper portion of the sleeve valve means i4.

The sleeves are driveniby mechanism supported Within the engine crankcase, and preferably a sleeve actuating member is associated With'each sleeve,'said member preferably consisting of a double crank member i8 supported by the trans-Y verse crankcase Wall IS. The illustrated sleeve actuator isr provided With .a bearing portion 20 and crank portions 2| and 22 carried by opposite endslofrtheactuator. one .of the crank portions (or. 12s- 81.)

operativelyconnected with the sleeve I4 While the other crank is connected toa common operat- 'fingvelement 23, which-operates all sleeve actuating members in'uniso'n. n

This common operating element ZSis drivenby eccentrics and/caused to "move-in an orbital path to impart a combined reciprocating and oscillatingmovement to the sleeve valves. This desired 'movement vis accomplished in the following manner. tonne-side of the engine plane containing the The crankcaselll includes a Wall lE9 offset sleeve andV cylinder axes, the -sleeve `actuators being preferably supported bythis wall. The Wall `carries suitable bearings A25 for lsupporting the crankshaft H, which extends forwardly-thereof.

'Spiders or brackets 26, 2-'lgareV carried by the 'tubular members or studs 28, these studs" being 'fastened to the Wall -IS by suitable bolts 2 9. The

end portions of the studs are preferably reduced In the construction shownI have provided three such ldriving YVintermediaries', Which are `respectively Vsupportediforrotation on one of the studs 28. The operating memberris provided with openings-'33 adapted for'receivi-ng the eccentrics 32 randthus asftheeng'ineis operatedthe operating member 23 'is moved f,man-orbital Vpath by means of these Veccentrics.

A crankcase oover'liencloses this sleeve valve driving meansand L'is preferably secured to the crankcase bybolts 35er other suitable fastening devices. A bearing .36"carriedby the cover. supports the 'forward-end ofthe crankshaft l i.

A.'Ihersleeve.actuating:meansor cranks are supported in :self-'aligning bearings 3l, .sometimes referred to as-radialbearings, (see ligl)` thatY permit vthe alignment of :said cranks With respect to the common operating element 23. VDuring the operationy of the engine, it maybe noted that l itis very lprobable'that the wall lS'will be sube" jectedfto diierent temperatures than the operating element 23 andthus theassembly of the sleeve. actuating members' or cranks in self-aligning or radialbearings in generalof the type here# T A spacer 40 consisting preferably of a circular plate is interposed between the spider or bracket 26 and the operating element 23 to take the end thrust of said element and to locate same relative to the sleeve actuating means or crank, said plate being preferably supported on the ange 2t carried by spider or bracket 26,

It may be noted that the sleeve driving assembly may be readily removed from the engine and may be removed as a unit on removing the cover 34. It will be noted that the said assembly may be removed as a unit if so desired by removing the nut 4l from bolt 29 and the nuts 42 lfrom each of the extending stub shafts 43 of thev crank 22. The crankshaft gear 39 is preferably provided with an integral hub 44 extending forwardly of the gear and the rearwardly extending sleeve portion 45 having a fiange 45 forming an abutment for the bearing 25 said integral hub, gear and sleeve being preferably splined tothe crankshaft. It may be noted that the stud shafts A43 extend through balls 4S carried by the operating element. Thus the entire driving assembly exclusive of the sleeve actuating cranks can be bodily attached or removed with respect to the remainder of the engine structure.- Y

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to Which my invention pertains that various modiiications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In an engine having a crankshaft anda plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, a sleeve operating element, and a plurality of driving intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft and with said sleeve operating element for actuating said sleeve operating element.

2. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radiallyy about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, a sleeve operating element, and a plurality of driving intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft and with said sleeve operating element for actuating said sleeve operating element, whereby to impart to the sleeve valve means a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement.

`3. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine `cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, l.sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, and sleeve driving means including a sleeve driving element and a plurality of eccentric driving-intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft for actuating said sleeve driving element,

4. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, and sleeve driving means includinga sleeve driving element, a crankshaft gear operatively connected with the crankshaft, and a plurality of driving intermediaries driven by said crankshaft gear for actuating'said sleeve driving element.

5. In an engine having a crankshaft anda plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, and sleeve driving means including a sleeve driving element, a crankshaft gear operatively connected with thecrankshaft, and a plurality of eccentrics driven by said crankshaft gear for actuating said sleeve driving element.

6. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated with each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement Withrespect to its axis, a sleeve valve operating element, means for connecting said operating element to each of said sleeve valves, and a plurality of driving intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft and with said operating element for moving said operating element in an orbital path whereby to impart the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves.

7. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated with each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, a sleeve valve operating element, means for connecting said operating element to each of said sleeve valves, and a plurality of eccentrics operatively driven from the crankshaft and connected with said operating element for moving said operating element in an orbital path whereby to impart the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valve.

8.In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve Valve associated Witheach cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, and sleeve driving means including an operating element vprovided with means for cona necting the element to each of said sleeve valves and a three-point drive consisting of angularly spaced eccent'rics for moving said operating element in an orbital path to impart the aforesaid movementto the sleeve valves.

9; In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeveV valve associated with each 'cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, a sleeve valve operating element, means for connecting the element to each ofsaid sleeve valves and means for moving said element in an orbital pathv whereby to impart the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, said means including a driving element operatively connected withthe crankshaft and a plurality of driving intermediaries connected with said sleeve valve operating element' nested about and connected to said. driving` element.

10. Ien an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated with each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to itsv axis, a sleeve valve operating element, means for connectingthe element to each of said sleeve valves, and means for moving said element in an orbital path whereby to impart the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, said means including a driving element operatively connected with the crank shaft and a plurality of eccentric driving intermediaries connected with said sleeve valve operating element and with said driving element.

11. In an engine having a crankcase, a crankshaft supported thereby, and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated with each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating i'lligb Athereof to permit :ready alignment lof f the opmovement 4with .respect to-its airis, I crank means lfor moving :each -sleeve lvalve supportedby-said -fcrankcasa and a unitary=crankoperating-mech fanism including a v'common 'operating-element,

cured as a unit tothe engine crankcase.y

12. In `an engine having' a t crankcase, -a .crankshaft supported thereby, fand a plurality of engine-cylinders disposed radially 'about the crankshaft, asleeve valve-associated with each cylinder and having aY combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, crank means for 4moving each sleeve yvalve supported by said crankcase, and a vunitary -crank operating mechanism including a common-'operating element and means'operatively connected with the crankshaft for moving said operating element in an orbital path to impart the aforeto the crankcase and provided with bearingmeans for supporting said crankshaft. V

13. In an engine having a-crankcase, acrankshaft supported thereby, and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated with each cylinder and'ihaving a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, crank means for moving each sleeve valve supported by said crankcase and a unitary crank operating mechanism including a common operating element and means operatively connected with the crankshaft for moving said operating element in an orbital path to impart the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, said mechanism including bracket means removably secured to the crankcase and provided with bearing means for supporting said operating element driving means.

lli. In an engine having a crankcase, a crankshaft supported thereby, and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a sleeve valve associated With each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement With respect to its axis, sleeve actuating means, and driving means therefor including a common operating element operatively driven from the crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting the aforesaid movement to the sleeve Valves, and radial bearing means carried by the crankcase for supporting the sleeve actuating means to permit ready alignment of the operating element with respect to said sleeve actuating means.

15. In an engine having a crankcasaa crankshaft supported thereby, and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, a ysleeve valve associated with each cylinder and having a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to its axis, sleeve actuating means extending through a portion of the crankcase and adapted for connection at one end to the sleeve valve, driving means therefor including a common operating element operatively driven from the crankshaft and moved in an orbital path for imparting the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, said operating element secured to the other end of said-sleeve actuating means, and self-aligning bearing means carried by the crankcase portion for supporting the sleeve actuating means at a point intermediate the ends erating element with respect Lto said sleeve .actuating nmeans:to compensate for `expansional differences. A 1Y rvlr6. An internal combustion engine having .a lcrankcase I and comprising in combination, a

crankshaf-tfa plurality -of ported cylinders `-having theiraxes-disposed radially about the crankshaft,

pistons within said cylinders respectively connected Withjthecrankshaft, a sleeve -valveimeans for each cylinder provided with ports vcooperating-with tthe cylinder ports, a Wall adja'centone end o'f thecrankc'ase and offsety to one side vof the plane ,of the engine containing the cylinder-axes, `a plurality of -sleeve valve actuating cranks. extending through said Ivvall, a common operating-element' operativelyfconnected Awith said crankshaft and with 'saidcranks, and, self -aligning'bearing Ameanscarrieol -by said wall for supporting said-sleeve valve actuating Acranks -to 'compensate for eXpansional/differences.

175; In'an engine having a crankshaft anda plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, vsleeve valvefmeansassociated With veach cylinder, and sleeve driving means operatively connectedvvvith vthe crankshaft 'and including an^element adapted Ito compensate for exp'ansional-diiferences in said sleeve driving'means. a y

vi8. In an engine having 'a crankshaft anda plurality of enginel cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, sleeve driving means operatively connected with the cran'kshaft'andincludingan element, 'and supporting means =for said element adapted to compensate for expansional differences in said sleeve driving means.

19. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated With each cylinder, sleeve driving vmeans operatively connected with the crankshaft and including sleeve actuating cranks and an operating element connected with said cranks, and supporting means for said cranks adapted to compensate for expansional differences between said operating element and crank supporting means. V

20. In an engine having a crankcase and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, a sleeve valve operatplurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, a sleeve valve operating element, means connecting the operating element to each of said sleeve valve means, and

means for driving said operating element from the drive from thc crankshaft to said sleeve valve operating element." i t Y 23. In an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve Valve means associated-With each cylinder, a sleeve operating element adapted for orbital movement in a plane substantially parallel to an engine plane contain;- ing the cylinder axes, 1neans connecting said `operating element with-said sleeve valve means, Vand a pluralityo eccentric driving intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft for actuating said sleeve operating element. ,-1

24. In an vengine having. acranks haft and a pluralityof engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve means associated with each cylinder, a crankcase structure includinga wall portion extending substantially perpendicularly to said crankshaft, a sleeve operating element, means connecting said operating element with eachoi said sleeve valve means, and a plurality of eccentric driving intermediaries operatively connected with said crankshaft for Aactuating said sleeve operating element and supangularlyspaced about said crankshaft and operative1y,.connected With said' crankshaft for actuating said sleeve. operating element, said driving intermediaries rotatablysupported by said wall portion. f

26. In an engine having a crankshaft and a` element with, each of said sleeve valve means, a plurality of sleeve operating element eccentric driving intermediaries angularly spaced about said crankshaft vand connected by gearing to said crankshaft, and individual supports carried by said Wall portionfor rotatably supporting said driving intermediaries.

27. In `an engine having a crankshaft and a plurality of engine cylinders disposed radially about the crankshaft, sleeve valve rneans associated with each cylinder, a crankcase structure including a wall portion extending substantially perpendicularly to said crankshaft, a sleeve operating element, means connecting said operating element with eachnof saidsleeve Valve means, a plurality'of sleeve operating element eccentric driving intermediaries angularly .spaced about said crankshaft and connected by gearing to said crankshaft, and studs carried by said wall portion and angularly spaced about the crankshaft for supporting said drivingintermediaries.

ANDRE J. MEYER. 

